Framingham firefighter charged with robbing Natick bank

Friday

Nov 10, 2017 at 12:17 PMNov 10, 2017 at 9:21 PM

Jim Haddadin Daily News Staff @JimHaddadin

FRAMINGHAM — A hero Framingham firefighter who served a tour in Afghanistan with the National Guard was arraigned Friday on charges he robbed a bank branch inside a Natick supermarket store one day earlier.

Michael Espinosa, 34, is accused of forcing a female bank teller to fill a brown paper bag with cash, then fleeing in a sport utility vehicle.

The robbery occurred shortly after 11:10 a.m. at the Citizens Bank inside the Stop & Shop at the 9/27 Plaza, 829 Worcester St.

Espinosa was arrested about 11 hours later near his home at 41 Saint Lo Road in Framingham. Five Framingham police officers took Espinosa into custody at 10:01 p.m. Thursday near 56 Arsenal Road on behalf of police in Natick, according to the police log.

At Espinosa's arraignment in Framingham District Court on Friday, a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf. Charged with a single count of armed robbery charge, he was ordered held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing on Nov. 16.

In 2015, Espinosa was among more than two dozen Framingham firefighters honored for helping rescue a woman trapped underwater in a car in a pond off Gates Street in June 2015. In an August 2010 story, the Daily News interviewed Espinosa and other members of Delta 1-181 Infantry regiment of the Massachusetts Army National Guard who were being deployed to Afghanistan. The story says it was Espinosa's second tour overseas.

Prosecutor Timothy Cochrane said Friday that about $1,000 was stolen in the robbery. Espinosa admitted to carrying out the heist when he was interrogated by Natick police, Cochrane told Judge Martine Carroll. He told authorities he had spent the money by the time he was arrested, according to a police report filed in court.

Natick police say Espinosa was identified by "several" people as the man seen in bank surveillance footage. RMV records also show that Espinosa owns a grey, 2012 Jeep Patriot similar to the vehicle seen in those recordings, authorities said.

Police removed two shotguns, a pair of semi-automatic rifles and a set of brass knuckles from Espinosa's home, according to the police report. They also seized a pair of sunglasses, a pellet gun, a ski mask and zip ties as potential evidence, the report indicates.

According to police, the robber told a teller that he had a gun, but did not show one.

“He put a bag on the counter and told her to give him the money with no dye packs,” Natick police spokesman Lt. Cara Rossi said.

No one was injured during the episode, which forced authorities to issue a temporary shelter in place order at the nearby Bennett-Hemenway Elementary School on Evergreen Road.

Shortly after the robbery, police issued an alert describing the thief as a white man in his 30s, about 5 feet, 10 inches tall. He was wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt with a black T-shirt underneath, a black scally cap, black pants and black sneakers.

Security cameras caught the man getting into a dark-colored SUV — possibly a Jeep — that took off on Rte. 9.

Framingham Fire Chief Joseph Hicks did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the arrest. The town’s director of human resources said Espinosa has been placed on administrative leave.

Espinosa was hired by the department in August 2008. He earned close to $68,775 last year, according to the most recent salary figures released by the town.

In November 2015, he was among 24 Framingham firefighters who were honored during a Statehouse ceremony for rescuing a woman who was trapped inside a car submerged in a small pond. Brother and sister Brian Archila and Jennifer Archila died in the June 7, 2015 crash on Gates Street near Framingham Country Club.

Rescuers arrived and heard the lone survivor calling for help. The woman was hypothermic, with her head in a small air pocket. Rescuers had to stabilize the two-door car and cut in through the trunk to free her. Espinosa assisted as one of six firefighters assigned to Dive Rescue 1.

Jim Haddadin can be reached at 617-863-7144 or jhaddadin@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter: @JimHaddadin

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